Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Nov 17 – 18, 2021
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Large avalanches have been occurring near ridge top.

The Icefields Parkway will be open in the morning from Jasper to Parker Ridge Parking Lot. The rest of the highway will remain closed until later in the afternoon. Check AB511 for updates.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    Recent large avalanches were observed near ridge top where new snow was impacted by the wind.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Even small avalanches in exposed terrain can have high consequences.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Storm slabs are settling down but use caution and dig down to test the snow before committing to a slope.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods.

Alpine temperature: -12 C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud.

Alpine temperature: Low -13 C, High -10 C.

Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.

Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: Low -15 C, High -9 C.

Ridge wind west: 10-30 km/h.

Snowpack Summary

Around 60cm of new snow at Parker Ridge in the past couple of days. Moderate to strong SW winds are building wind slabs in the alpine and exposed treeline. This new storm snow is sitting on a variable snowpack depending on aspect and elevation with a melt freeze crust up to around 2500m, weak faceted snow near the ground and old melt freeze crusts

Avalanche Summary

In the Parker Ridge area on Tuesday there were several avalanches near ridge top in a "thin to thick" snowpack and rocky terrain where wind had firmed up the new snow. These avalanches stepped down to ground. A large avalanche was caused by explosives in a similar terrain feature propagating over 800m wide.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered